Author: Nadirian Emma

REMAINS OF WORLD’S OLDEST HUMAN BRAIN FOUND IN ARMENIA

Asian News International (ANI)
October 5, 2009 Monday

Washington, October 1 (ANI): An Armenian-American-Irish archeological
expedition claims to have found the remains of the world’s oldest
human brain, estimated to be over 5,000 years old.

The discovery was made recently in a cave in southeastern Armenia.

An analysis performed by the Keck Carbon Cycle Accelerator Mass
Spectrometry Laboratory at the University of California, Irvine
confirmed that one of three human skulls found at the site contains
particles of a human brain dating to around the first quarter of the
4th millennium BC.

"The preliminary results of the laboratory analysis prove this is
the oldest of the human brains so far discovered in the world,"
said Dr. Boris Gasparian, one of the excavation’s leaders and an
archeologist from the National Academy of Science’s Institute of
Archaeology and Ethnology in Yerevan.

"Of course, the mummies of Pharaonic Egypt did contain brains, but this
one is older than the Egyptian ones by about 1,000 to 1,200 years,"
he added.

The team in Armenia, comprised of 26 specialists from Ireland, the
United States and Armenia, had been excavating the three-chamber cave
where the brain was found since 2007.

The site, overlooking the Arpa River near the town of Areni, is
believed to date mostly to the Late Chalcolithic Period or the Early
Bronze Age (around 6,000 to 5,000 years ago).

It also contains evidence of elaborate burial rituals and agricultural
practices.

The skull with the brain was found in a chamber that contained three
buried ceramic vessels containing the skulls of three women, about
11 to 16 years old.

The cave’s damp climate helped preserve red and white blood cells in
the brain remains.

"It is a unique first-hand source of information about the genetic
code of the people who inhabited this place, and we’re now studying
it," Gasparian said in reference to the nine-centimeter-long,
seven-centimeter-high brain fragment.

It is still being determined from what part of the brain the fragment
comes.

"Microscopic analysis revealed blood vessels and traces of a brain
hemorrhage, perhaps caused by a blow to the head," Gasparian said.

Next to one of the three skulls, the team also found four adult
femoral shafts – midsections of a thigh bone – that may have also
played a role in the ritual.

"Interestingly, some of them were not just burnt, but rather evenly
roasted from all sides, which directly points to a ceremonial
practice. This may have been a case of ceremonial cannibalism, but
it still needs to be proved," said Gasparian.

MENDELSON DEFENDS FREE SPEECH AT TOWN HALL
By Erin Hale

McGill Daily
Oct 15, 2009

Deputy Provost (Student Life & Learning) Morton Mendelson laid
out McGill’s policy on controversial events and fielded questions
from students at a packed town hall last Thursday in the Shatner
building. Referencing three events that have stirred debate over the
past year – a talk by a Turkish professor on the Armenian genocide,
a flag display by Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, and a recent
Choose Life event that ended in two arrests – Mendelson indicated that
the University would maintain a policy of respecting freedom of speech,
as long as the events in question are not hateful or slanderous.

Mendelson noted, though, that while the University respects students’
right to protest, this right is subject to certain restrictions.

"The University has been very open with respect to protest, but it
also has limits. One of the limits we are absolutely adamant about
is protest that disrupts the free expression of ideas on campus,"
he said. "[It] crosses the line because that protest is attacking or
undermining the core value of a university, that is meant to educate,
transmit, and discover knowledge."

When SSMU VP External Sebastian Ronderos-Morgan asked whether SSMU’s
equity policy and constitution would be considered for contentious
events, Mendelson said that the University’s stance would be determined
independently.

"If there is an event that is approved for university space, then we
don’t look to others outside the university – and SSMU is outside the
university, though students are not. We don’t look to expressions
from stakeholders to determine whether we are going to have the
event," Mendelson said, noting that he takes the same approach when
concerns are raised by other interest groups, such as private donors
or professors.

While Mendelson said that he evaluates controversial campus events
personally and on a case-by-c e Senator Mitran Mehta both commented
that they found this policy arbitrary and problematic.

"The University holds responsibility not only to students but to the
local community," Mehta said. "There are some events out there that
want to express a unilateral point of view. I feel there should be
general guideline to work from."

Karina Gold, U3 Political Science and Latin America studies, asked
Mendelson to define more specifically when he felt a campus group
was using hate speech or denying another group’s existence.

"I’m not a lawyer. We have to make a distinction between hate speech
and speech we may find hateful," Mendelson replied. "Just because
someone finds something very disturbing and very problematic does
not make something hate speech."

Referencing his time at university in the sixties, Mendelson said
events that make students feel uncomfortable – provided they are not
hateful – are an important part of student life.

"If you spend three years at university and are not troubled by
something you hear, then we aren’t doing our job. You’re supposed to
be troubled by things you hear, you’re supposed to be upset by them,
supposed to challenge them. You’re supposed to be engaged by them. The
mere fact there is an idea out that is deeply disturbing to you is
something we have to protect," Mendelson said. "As long as the idea
does not violate the law – so hate speech is out, slander is out –
the public expression of ideas is fine."

HOVIK ABRAHAMIAN: COOPERATION BETWEEN RA AND UKRAINIAN REGIONS IS ONE OF PRIMARY DIRECTIONS OF COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
15.10.2009

Direct contacts and cooperation between Armenian and Ukrainian regions
in trade-economic, cultural, educational and other spheres are one of
the primary directions of mutually beneficial cooperation between the
two countries. RA National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamian receiving
Ukrainian Kharkov region Governor Arsen Avakov on October 15 reaffirmed
Armenian side’s interest in expanding and developing those contacts.

In that context the interlocutors attached importance to the Protocol
on Intentions of Cooperation signed between the Ukrainian Kharkov
region and Armenian regions the day before.

According to a report by the RA NA Public Relations Department,
A. Avakov and members of the delegation led by him presented a
number of cooperation proposals in the spheres of energy, agriculture,
education and other spheres. The sides reached an agreement to continue
discussing those proposals at the professional level, then to start
implementing coordinated programs in as short time as possible.

Fraud fugitive busted after unwise friend request

The Associated Press
October 14, 2009

By GENE JOHNSON (AP)

SEATTLE – Maxi Sopo was living the dream of a fugitive abroad, kicking back
on the beaches of Cancun by day, partying in the clubs by night.

Then he did two things that are never a good idea when you’re on the run
from authorities: He started posting Facebook updates about how much fun he
was having – and added a former Justice Department official to his list of
friends.

That kind of recklessness landed the 26-year-old native of Cameroon in a
Mexico City jail, where he is awaiting extradition to the United States on
bank fraud charges. Federal prosecutors say he and an associate falsely
obtained more than $200,000 from Seattle-area banks and credit unions.

"He was making posts about how beautiful life is and how he was having a
good time with his buddies," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scoville,
who helped find Sopo. "He was definitely not living the way we wanted him to
be living, given the charges he was facing."

Even in the hold-nothing-back world of social networking, where police
search Facebook photos for evidence of underage drinking and watch YouTube
videos to identify riot suspects, it’s rare that a fugitive helps
authorities this much.

In status updates, Sopo said he was "loving it" and "living in paradise."
"LIFE IS VERY SIMPLE REALLY!!!!" he wrote on June 21. "BUT SOME OF US HUMANS
MAKE A MESS OF IT…REMEMBER AM JUST HERE TO HAVE FUN PARTEEEEEEE."

Sopo, who came to the U.S. in about 2003, made a living selling roses in
Seattle nightclubs until, according to prosecutors, he moved on to bank
fraud. He apparently drove a rented car to Mexico in late February after
learning that federal agents were investigating the fraud scheme.

Investigators initially could find no trace of him on social networking
sites such as Facebook and MySpace, and they were unable to pin down his
exact location in Mexico.

But several months later, Secret Service agent Seth Reeg checked Facebook
again – and up popped Maxi Sopo. His photo showed him wearing a black jacket
decorated with a white lion as he stood in front of a party backdrop
featuring logos of BMW and Courvoisier cognac.

Although Sopo’s profile was set to private, his list of friends was not, and
Scoville started combing through it. He was surprised to see that one friend
listed an affiliation with the Justice Department and sent him a message
requesting a phone call.

"We figured this was a person we could probably trust to keep our inquiry
discreet," Scoville said.

The former official told Scoville he had met Sopo in Cancun’s nightclubs a
few times, but did not really know him and had no idea he was a fugitive.
The official learned where Sopo was living and passed that information back
to Scoville, who provided it to Mexican authorities. They arrested Sopo last
month.

The fugitive had been living at a nice apartment complex, working at a hotel
and partying at Cancun’s beaches, pools and nightclubs, Scoville said.
Sopo does not yet have a lawyer, and it was not immediately clear how to
contact him.

Prosecutors say he masterminded the bank fraud scheme with Edward
Asatoorians, who was convicted by a federal jury in Seattle last week.
Testimony at trial indicated the pair persuaded young co-conspirators to lie
about their income to obtain loans for fabricated auto purchases, and then
used the money to prop up Asatoorians’ business and to take an expensive
trip to Las Vegas.

Asatoorians is expected to face at least five years in prison when he’s
sentenced. If convicted, Sopo could face up to 30 years.

Citing privacy concerns, the former Justice Department official declined an
interview request left with the U.S. attorney’s office.

Scoville said it was someone who left the department when the Obama
administration arrived, and who had been taking some time off and organizing
student trips to Cancun.

Facebook was not Sopo’s only computer activity during his time on the lam.
An affidavit contains details from an instant-message conversation in March
between Sopo and a low-level conspirator in the case. Sopo explained that he
had fled to "the one safe place where i can actually think."

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

PRIME MINISTER: IRAN-ARMENIA RAILWAY CAN CHANGE GEOPOLITICAL THINGS OF WHOLE REGION

ARKA
Oct 13, 2009

YEREVAN, October 13. /ARKA/. Iran-Armenia railway can change
geopolitical things in the whole region, Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan said Tuesday at the joint conference Russian RIA
Novosti and Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University held to discuss
security in the South Caucasus.

"This project is estimated to cost $1 billion. On ne hand, these
expenses diversify our opportunities and lessen dependence on Turkey,
and on the other hand, they make behavior of Turkey and Georgia
more predictable."

The premier said that Armenia and Iran have already set up a group
for implementing this project.

Armenian and Iranian deputy transport ministers and representatives
of Russian Railways will deal with the matter.

Sargsyan said that the railway will be constructed in very complicated
mountainous terrain.

The new railway will come as an alternative gateway to the world.

Now Armenia has railway access to foreign countries only through
Georgia’s territory.

"HERITAGE" PARTY DEMAND RESIGNATION OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
13.10.2009 20:37 GMT+04:00

On October 13, the Heritage Party issued a statement in connection
with the signing of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols in Zurich, which
indicates that the process of normalizing relations between Armenia
and Turkey is imposed by the international community.

"Heritage" warns that during the following stages of normalization
of relations Armenia will have to deal with the Turkish state, which
systematically violates its obligations.

In their statement, the Heritage Party again criticized the activities
of the Armenian diplomacy and Armenian-Turkish Protocols, highlighting
their negative aspects.

Heritage argues that signing of the protocols is illegal, since
protocols were signed by the leadership, came to power through rigged
elections.

The "Heritage" Party demands resignation of the Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan and calls upon all political forces to unite efforts.

DOCUMENTS ON NORMALIZING ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS SIGNED IN ZURICH

17
oct 10 2009, 23:52

Today, at the Zurich University, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of
Armenia and Turkey Edward Nalbandyan and Ahmet Davutoglu put their
signatures under the documents on normalization of relations between
these two countries – the "Protocol on Development of Mutual Relations"
and "Protocol on Establishing Diplomatic Relations".

According to the first document, the parties have agreed to open their
mutual border within two months after enactment of the document,
hold consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, use
the infrastructure existing between the two countries, develop the
legal-treaty sphere, set up cooperation in consular relations, and
in trade, economic cooperation and tourism.

The "Protocol on Establishing Diplomatic Relations" provides
establishment of diplomatic relations from the date of signing and
exchange of diplomatic missions.

The "Interfax" Agency reports that the Protocols will come into force
on the first day of the month following the exchange of ratification
tools.

The signing ceremony was attended by Micheline Calmy-Ray, Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, the mediating country in the
settlement process; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey
Lavrov; US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Supreme Commissioner
on Foreign Policy and Security of the European Union Javier Solana,
and Bernard Koushner, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, as reported
by the ITAR-TASS Agency.

"BUY THE ARMENIAN" NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO START ON NOVEMBER 1

Noyan Tapan
12.10.2009

"Buy the Armenian" national campaign as part of the Water-to-Market
(WtM) Activity of the Millennium Challenge Account- Armenia
(MCA-Armenia) Program will start on November 1. The campaign
will include a number of measures such as the demonstration of
commercials on products made in Armenian marzes, food tasting in
shops, etc. MCA-Armenia CEO Ara Hovsepian said at the October 12
press conference that the purpose of the campaign is to promote the
consumption of goods of domestic producers in both domestic and foreign
markets and to encourage the establishment and development of farms,
which is the major goal of VtM Activity.

RA Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsian underlined the importance of
this initiative under conditions of the global economic crisis, noting
that it will allow organizing greater production and creating jobs in
rural areas – in the sphere of agricultural food processing. In his
words, such campaigns should be conducted not only in food industry,
but also in other sectors.

According to Richard Hurelbrink, Head of ACDI/VOCA organization
implementing WtM Activity, during the crisis, measures of this kind
are taken in many countries and are considered successful. He said
that in preparing this project, their aim was that local consumers
would feel pride when buying an Armenian product and also realize
that in this way they benefit both farmers and processing enterprises.

HEARING IN DINK MURDER CASE IN ISTANBUL

Aysor.am
Tuesday, October 13

The 12th regular hearing of the trial related to journalist Hrant
Dink’s murder is held behind close doors. Journalists are not allowed
to be present; only two relatives and Akos paper’s representatives
are allowed there.

The solidarity gathered Armenians, Kurds, and Turkish here at
Istanbul’s Peshiktash district, all of them carrying posters reading
"We are all Hrant Dink", "For Hrant, For Justice".

Aysor’s correspondent passes from Istanbul that Hrant Dink’s friend
Mahir Gyushiar spoke to gathered people with a statement that he
doesn’t believe in justice in Istanbul.

"We will come here every time and demand on justice; real developments
are never given to the world. They never tell what is going on at
hearings," he said while protesters began shouting slogan "In the
name of brotherhood."

ACNIS DIRECTOR SAYS TURKEY WILL DELAY RATIFICATION OF PROTOCOLS

Panorama.am
17:11 12/10/2009

The director of Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) Richard Giragosian told the reporters today that Turkey, or
Turkish Parliament would delay the ratification of Armenian-Turkish
protocols for one year, as after the ratification they should meet
the problem of opening the border in 60 days.

According to Giragosian Turkey will try hard to reinforce its
political power as the 95th anniversary of Armenian Genocide will
be marked. Giragosian says Turkish side had serious reasons to feel
happy. The expert says he means a sort of gap separated Armenia
and Diaspora.

Regarding the Zurich meeting the expert said: "USA and Switzerland are
disappointed from Turkey, and it is interesting to note that neither
Russia nor EU defended Armenia, only America and Switzerland did,"
the expert said.

R. Giragosian says the President should announce that he will not go
to Bursa if the Turkish side keeps playing games.